Farmer discusses potential impacts of Trump tariffs on the industry

Founder and President of the National Black Farmers Association John Boyd joined The National News Desk to discuss what these orders mean for the farming industry.

Four years ago, China put tariffs on American soybeans. Now, with the U.S. planning to impose these tariffs on the country, we asked Boyd if he expects this to begin a retaliatory trade war.

"I think it's going to be difficult because our tariffs, of course, China may just stop buying U.S. soybeans. And the last time that happened and the price dropped from $16 a bushel down to $7 and some change a bushel. It took some offset from Congress, to help alleviate some of that pain for America's farmers."

Trump's pick to lead the USDA, Brooke Rollins, has said she would consider payments to farmers to offset losses from the tariffs.

Boyd said he is most concerned about drops in prices as farming is priced by demand.

"So if China seeks to purchase soybeans from another region of the world, that's going to hurt America's farmers, and the price is going to drop. And, the Agriculture Department should be prepared, to, help Americans combat because this is something that the administration chose to go in this direction to impose tariffs," Boyd said.

Boyd said if they don't have the money they cannot pay for labor and that, as well as mass deportations, could in turn create a ripple effect on the American consumer.

"Many large-scale farmers in this country depend on, migrant laborers to pick the onions and tomatoes and all of these things that, we take for granted for the, to open that grocery store on time. And, America's farmers do a great job at producing these crops."

Boyd said if tariffs are imposed and a lack of laborers becomes apparent, a plan of action is needed for where workers are going to come from.

"This may be an avenue where America is going to have to go back to work and start, putting farmers first and then getting involved and, and starting to take some of these jobs as labor by farmers. I struggle finding labor, even in my own farm," Boyd said.